Tech Vs Tremors: Digital Health Tools For Tremor Management

Tremors, these little, involuntary movements may seem like “just some shaking of the hand, nothing to fuss about” for the outsider, but can actually significantly damage the daily life and well-being of those affected. Tremors can disrupt basic daily activities like eating, dressing, writing, or using technology, can cause social anxiety and self-consciousness, and in more severe cases can interfere with work or driving a car and thus undermine a person’s autonomy.?

And they are not exactly rare: according to conservative estimates, approximately 1% of people have essential tremors. Meanwhile, other sources, like the University of Michigan Health System Movement Disorder Program say the prevalence is closer to 5%. The actual figure might be somewhere in between, but we know for certain that tremors get significantly more prevalent with age.

Medicine aims to help tremor patients in several ways, offering drugs, surgical treatments, and increasingly, non-invasive digital health methods. With this analysis, we wanted to provide an overview of this latter field: how technology can help patients with tremors.?

Tremors are involuntary, rhythmic muscle contractions that cause shaking movements in one or more body parts. The oscillations may be rapid or slow, occur at rest or during movement, and vary in severity. They are common and can affect people of all ages. Tremors can emerge as a benign condition without a serious health implication, known as physiological tremor, or indicate a more complex neurological condition.

Tremors can be categorised by their cause (essential tremors, tremors caused by neurological diseases, and various other causes), and we can also differentiate between resting and action tremors.

What non-invasive technologies can help tremor patients?

Given the incredibly complex web of potential cases and tremor types, the palette of available solutions is also extremely diverse. We recently reported about the Gyroglove, a smart device using the principle of gyroscopes to stabilise hand movements. Unfortunately, its $6000 price tag also means it will never become widely available for tremor patients.?

A similar product with a significantly lower price is called the Steadi-Two. While $650 is still not cheap, it is one large step closer to being affordable for everyday folks.?

But gloves are by far not the only way to help patients with tremors. We introduced these smart utensils 7 years ago as examples of brilliant design.?

As this study summarises, these are just the tips of the iceberg. Tremor patients can use:

Wearable Sensors for tremor detection

These devices track the frequency, amplitude, and patterns of tremors. This data helps doctors understand the severity of the condition and tailor treatment more effectively. An example of this is the Kinesia line from Great Lake Neurotechnologies that in the US can be prescribed to patients.?

Bracelet-based tremor suppressive devices

These bracelets often use vibration therapy or mild electrical stimulation to disrupt the nerve signals responsible for the tremors. An example is the Cala kIQ, formerly known as Cala Trio, which can also be prescribed in the US.?

Glove-based tremor suppressive device

Similar to the bracelet, this wearable fits over the entire hand and uses sensors and motors to provide counter-movements to the tremors, offering stability and improved motor control. Examples include the previously mentioned and linked GyroGlove and SteadiTwo.?

Orthosis for tremor suppression

Orthotic devices are custom-fitted braces that provide support and stability to a limb or the torso. For tremor suppression, they might be designed to restrict tremor-prone movements while allowing for intended motion. Products from Readi-steadi belong to this category.

Stabilising tray for tremor suppression

These trays are designed to be carried by individuals with tremors. They might have built-in mechanisms, such as springs or electronic stabilization, to keep the tray level and contents secure. An example of this is the Unspillable Tray, shown here in action.?

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Stabilising spoon/utensils for tremor suppression

Eating utensils with either tremor-cancellation technology or very specific shapes and design that allow individuals to eat without spilling food, providing them with more independence during meals. A good selection of such devices can be found here under the “Utensil and Cooking” section.?

PC mouse control and other computer aids

These devices and software are designed to help users with tremors. The category includes uniquely designed hardware like the Rollermouse and anti-tremor filtering software like SteadyMouse.

Specific devices for Parkinson’s patients

This paper introduces a range of wearable devices for Parkinson’s patients. These include monitoring devices like the PD Monitor, the Parkinson’s KinetiGraph (PKG), the Stat-On Holter, the already mentioned Kinesia devices, movement monitors like DynaPort,?or FeetMe, and the Opal sensors from APDM. All devices in this category are class I or class II medical devices, and most have both CE and FDA clearing.

While still an under-explored area, the potential of digital health solutions for tremor patients is undeniable. Though tremor-focused initiatives might not dominate top headlines or investment rounds, these technologies have the power to revolutionise patient care. And in a recent big step forward, the European Parliament just recognized essential tremor as a disease, aiming to channel increased R&D funding to this area and forming a "comprehensive European strategy for brain disorders". We remain committed to monitoring innovations in this space, as we firmly believe digital health can offer new avenues for better symptom management, personalised treatment, and a significantly improved quality of life for those living with tremors.